Deciding to pursue an artistic or creative career path isn’t for the faint of heart. Challenges will abound, but so many of the artists we speak with couldn’t be happier with their choice. So, we asked them about how they made the decision in the first place.

Lauren Lee Garcia | Theatre Arts Teacher & Director

From a young age, I’ve been drawn to the arts, captivated by characters, performances, theater, and storytelling. In third grade, my teacher (who later became my host teacher during student teaching) was passionate about the arts. We put on a play about Pecos Bill using puppetry, where I performed as Slue-Foot Sue. I still have my puppet! It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our skills and creativity. Read more>>

Noah Mazé | Yoga Educator

I was raised to value creativity, entrepreneurialism, and non-conventional life and career paths. I was encouraged to follow my interests, to follow my heart, and had lots of examples around me of how to make those passions into a successful career. Read more>>

Troy Warwick | Videographer & Photographer

From early on in my life I was always drawn to the creative side of expression as I just always found more joy and fulfillment in that space. I also consider myself pretty technical in regards to learning skills to help perform my creative tasks better, but as for my career, which began in the music realm in my younger twenties, it slowly opened up into the photography and videography arts in my thirties. Read more>>

Sara Bakowski | Artist & Designer

Honestly, I pursued an artistic career because I had never imagined myself doing anything else! I know a lot of people say this, haha, but I really have talked about being an artist since I was a little kid. My parents always said artists never make any money until they’re dead (in a fun playful way really LOL).  Read more>>

Ashley Aldred | Dance and Choreographer

I am still in college at the Universty of Arizona and am receiving my BFA in dance. This school is extremely rigorous and renowned for their ability to prepare dancers for the industry. I have loved dance ever since I began at the age of 2. I realized that my passion and joy is dance and I wanted to make a career out of it.  Read more>>

Anne Garcia | Salon owner/ hair stylist

I pursed an artist career because I knew it was the only option I could be truly happy in, if I have to water myself down for a job I refuse to take it. I have a literal rocket scientist at NASA for a father so I had big shoes to fill, I know I filled them just not in the way anyone expected me to, but the pressure to prove my southern cookie cutter family wrong pushed me to work as hard as I have while staying true to who I am and what I know I want. Read more>>

Christine Kuebler | Artist

I have vivid childhood memories of working at the outside painting easel in kindergarten at recess time. All the other kids wanted to ride the tricycles, run, climb, jump. But. not me, I wanted to create. I can still see the images I would paint at 5 years old. Read more>>